Falcon Transportation from Orientation.......

OK, so here I am. A brand new Falcon Transport flatbed student. I just finished orientation in ever-so-lovely Gary, IN and thought I would pass along my experiences thus far. I will try to be as impartial as possible, but personal opinion may leak through.

First of all is the application process. Falcon tries to keep as much of the application and associated paperwork online as possible. So you, the hopeful new employee, will actually do most of your paperwork at home. Have all your ducks in a row, and be ready to fax off copies of any supporting paperwork necessary. For example, I have some self-employment time that needed accounted for. This was done through the simple expedient of faxing off a few copies of checks received during that time so it could be verified.

Additionally, you will need to have a fairly recent physical. Stay in contact with your recruiter, make sure yours is up-to-date and accepted. Though it is my understanding Falcon doesn't particularly care what doc did your physical as long as it meets DOT requirements. The company will send you for your DOT drug screen before you go to orientation, and it is paid by the company.

Once all that is done, you'll be scheduled for orientation in Gary, IN. If you can drive yourself, I highly recommend it. You will be reimbursed for mileage. If not, company paid bus ticket via Greyhound. If you do chose to drive yourself, you can either take the van to orientation or take your own vehicle. The orientation packet states that you cannot drive to the yard, but that is outdated.

First day is the basic meet and greet with the orientation leaders, Paul and Sym. Paul is a great guy, highly experienced as a driver, and keeps things going at a nice pace. Sym is also a former driver, and is getting trained up to replace Paul due to retirement. Quieter than Paul, but working on getting his orientation "flow" smoothed out. Anyway, the first day is pretty much getting the driving and backing tests done, and dealing with any last minute physical and drug screen issues that came up. One of our guys had a whiz quiz that apparently got lost, so he had to retake. Not an issue.

The backing test is done with a daycab (automatic transmission) and a 53' van trailer. Pretty simple 45 degree dock, and a straight back maneuver. For the driving test, you head out with a flatbed (spread axle), take a right out of the lot and drive around the block. Again, not hard. Although personally I hate using an automatic for absolutely anything....

Day two is focused on logs and CSA. Every driver with Falcon starts on paper logs, and makes the eventual transition to E-Logs on peopleNet. Falcon does use scanable logs, so they are very picky about how the log page is filled out. You'll also get the first "homework" assignment, filling out a logpage according to instructions. Follow direction, it takes about 5 minutes out of your busy day.

Day three covers pretrip inspections, roadside inspections, dealing with the DOT on a regular basis. Falcon does not have Pre-pass, and a quick check of their CSA score offers the reason why. So expect to get pulled around the scales a lot. Keep your equipment tight, and your logs tighter, or driving for Falcon will cost you more than you will earn. CSA is again pushed.

Day four is a short day for most. Experienced drivers are getting their driver codes, and being told where they have to go to get their trucks. There is no truck assignment out of Gary, IN unless that is your home terminal. In my orientation group, all the experienced guys were lucky enough to have their trucks at their home terminals, so they all went home for the weekend. Van students also get to go home for the weekend, most of them had their trainers set up before they left. Flatbed students get held over for a bit to cover the basics of load securement. Most of the Van experienced guys got dedicated runs right out the gate, so it's very possible to set something up for yourself.

Orientation is typically set up for a four day stretch for van and five for flatbed, but if your group is well organized and you don't have "that driver" who needs to argue each and every point you'll probably get out on Thursday regardless of division.

Being that I'm an official flatbed student, now that I'm done with orientation I'm sitting here at home for the weekend. Next week I'll be down in Weirton, WV for a full load securement course, then out with a trainer for a week or two. I'll post the schedule and layout next week.

 

Need the recent verifiable to get back out with a real outfit. Can't afford a refresher, or the time a refresher would take. Falcon took me with a 5 year break in my driving record.

And I'm already in negotiations with Fraley & Schiller.

And Falcon's trucks are always sitting at the side of the highway because they are busted down, worn out, sagging and beaten 3/4 of the way to death. Or they are the newer ProStars.

 

OK, on to Falcon's Load Securement Training Course, or SSC.

When a student gets to take the securement course is up to the training department. Some will go straight from orientation to load securement, others will go out with their trainers first. I got the lucky number, and got load securement after orientation.

Load Securement takes place at Weirton, WV. You will practice both load securement for steel coils and practice backing maneuvers in the yard. The instructor, Rick Barber, is a cranky ol' fart but actually very knowledgeable about how to get crap tied down on the deck so it doesn't fall the heck off.

The course takes place from Monday thru Thursday, with a final written test on Friday. Rick covers securing shotgun, suicide, and eye to the sky coils, and a bit on slinkies. Securing other types of freight, like roofing tiles and pipe, is discussed but there is no "hands on".

Students do take a hands on final on Thursday. You will get to secure a load (Rick's choice), tarp the load, then pull the tarp and break down the load securement. Finally, you do get tested on how you fold and roll your tarp. Do it Rick's way, and you pass easy - peasy.

The securement training is pretty decent for as far as it goes. I'd personally like to see some hands on for pipe loads, maybe some choke-strapping bar stock and so forth. But it is what it is, so if you are heading that way just be sure to pay attention in class.

As far as the backing practice goes, there's plenty of time to practice if you have a small group like I did, but don't stress it too much. Rick tries to show the students some easy ways to get in the hole, but there's no testing out process. On the upside, you do get to play with the sight and blind side serpentine maneuver (a humbling experience for most of us if ever there was one) and the basic straight back, sight side 45 degree, and blind side 45 degree.

That's it for me on this thread. That's the last I've got. After two weeks of employment, I've self-terminated my employment with Falcon Transport. I was offered a much better position with a much better company, and I'll be in orientation for that outfit on the 28th. Considering Falcon managed to roll over yet another truck this very morning on OH St. Rt. 11 north of Youngstown, OH.

http://www.wfmj.com/category/179433...d=9430127&topVideoCatNo=127770&autoStart=true

Considering where their "Unsafe Driving" BASIC was before this screw-up, I'm pretty sure Falcon is on it's slow but inevitable way out:

http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/sms/Data/carrier.aspx?enc=rT8ULVtiVpIQ0mPF9y6Qxw==


Better outside looking in, ya?

 

As far as I know, no. But this thread is dead. I fled Falcon with a happy heart, and now drive for Fraley and Shilling.